EA Sports games are generally known for their accurate predictions, especially concerning events like the FIFA World Cup. Their forecast of Canada winning the 4 Nations Face-Off final against the U.S. further solidified this reputation. However, the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have significantly deviated from the NHL 25 simulation results.
The NHL 25 simulation predicted the Toronto Maple Leafs would win the 2025 Stanley Cup, defeating the Colorado Avalanche in the final. It also forecast the Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights reaching the conference finals.
In reality, all four teams predicted to be in the conference finals were eliminated before that stage. Instead of a Colorado versus Vegas Western Conference final, the matchup features the Dallas Stars against the Edmonton Oilers. In the East, the Florida Panthers are competing against the Carolina Hurricanes, contrary to the predicted bracket.
To its credit, the simulation had a decent start in the first round. Here`s a comparison of the predicted versus actual results for Round 1:
- Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues: 4-3 (predicted 4-3)
- Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche: 4-3 (predicted 1-4)
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild: 4-2 (predicted 4-1)
- Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers: 2-4 (predicted 4-3)
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators: 4-2 (predicted 4-2)
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers: 1-4 (predicted 1-4)
- Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens: 4-1 (predicted 1-4)
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils: 4-1 (predicted 4-0)
NHL 25 correctly predicted the winner in five first-round series, getting the exact series length right for three of them. However, Dallas`s 4-3 victory over Colorado eliminated one of the predicted finalists early. The convincing 4-1 win by Washington over Montreal was another major upset to the simulation`s bracket. This led to a completely different set of matchups in Round 2 compared to the predictions:
- Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars: 2-4 (predicted Jets 1-4 Avalanche)
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers: 1-4 (predicted Knights 4-3 Kings)
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers: 3-4 (predicted Maple Leafs 4-2 Panthers)
- Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes: 1-4 (predicted Canadiens 4-1 Hurricanes)
Callum Darby 
Finley Holt